Malachi 3:2-3

2 “ But who can endure the day of His coming?
And who can stand when He appears?
For He is like a refiner’s fire
And like launderers’ soap.
3 He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver;
He will purify the sons of Levi,
And purge them as gold and silver,
That they may offer to the LORD
An offering in righteousness. (NKJV)


When I read the verses above, the phrase that caught my eye was "a refiner's fire". The Lord, through Malachi, gives an extremely clear picture of the day of His coming - flames of fire. When the Lord comes, He will purify the sons of Levi.

It is interesting to note that He considered the current state of his chosen people so sinful that He would also seek to purify their religious leaders, that is, the priests from the tribe of Levi or the Levites, as well. This points to the depth of sinfulness that the entire nation has sunk into.

As well, Malachi explains why even the priests had to undergo purification - the Lord accepts only offerings in righteousness. This applies to us even now, which is why we need to come before God daily in confession of our sins and in repentance so that what we offer him (our prayers, our worship, our adoration and our works) is an offering in righteousness. And knowing that He is able to accept us because of the blood that Christ shed on Calvary, not of our own works or abilities. As Matthew Henry says in his commentary: "Till we ourselves be refined and purified by the grace of God, we cannot do anything that will redound to the glory of God."

This brings to my mind the words of Psalm 24:3-6

3 Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?
Or who may stand in His holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,
Nor sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive blessing from the LORD,
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him,
Who seek Your face. Selah (NKJV)


I also came across this wonderful story which really added a lot to my understanding of why God used that phrase "a refiner's fire" in Malachi.

There was a group of women who got together each week for a Bible study - and eventually reached the book of Malachi. As they were studying chapter three they came across verse three which says, "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." This verse puzzled the women and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.

One of the women offered to find out about the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study. That week the woman called up a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work, and he agreed to answer any questions that may satisfy her curiosity. As she watched the silversmith, he held a chunk of concentrated silver ore over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that, in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest so as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman imagined God allowing each of us to be held in such a hot situation - then she thought again about the verse, that He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver. She asked the silversmith if he could leave it heating on its own or if he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he also had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. For as impurities worked their way to the surface, they needed to be removed immediately as dross. Not only that, he explained, but if the silver was left even a little too long in the flames or allowed to become too hot, it would oxidize and become unworkable, causing it to require a whole other process to restore its condition and purity and reclaim its value.

Finally she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's the easy part - when I see my image reflected in it."

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that once you accept Christ and give your life to Him, you are one of God's children. He then has His eye on you and will keep His hand on you and watch over you until He sees His image reflected in you.
-Anonymous



References:
1. Matthew Henry's Commentary of the Bible

2. John Calvin's Commentary of the Bible